July 13, 2009 at 4:02 pm
More Malaysian companies should consider investing in Morocco’s booming construction industry, particularly in its housing sector, says Malaysian Ambassador to Morocco Datuk Othman Samin.
“We have very good investment prospects in this sector led by Kausar Corporation, a flagship company of the Al-Hidayah Group of Companies, which is building houses in a new township,” he told Bernama.
The Malaysian company is currently undertaking housing construction in Tamesna, a self-contained new city being developed between Rabat, Temara, Skhirat and Ain Aouda, about 12km south of Rabat, Morocco’s capital city.
The new township aims to relieve Rabat of its growing chaotic urbanisation and will have access to the Casablanca Highway as well as the opportunity for better infrastructure planning.
“We are promoting Malaysian expertise globally and since the housing sector is growing in Morocco, hopefully more Malaysian companies will emulate the success of the Al-Hidayah group,” he said.
Othman, who started his tour of duty as ambassador to Morocco in 2007, said he hoped to boost Malaysian companies’ participation in the host country’s development and expand investment prospects.
“The Al-Hidayah Group, for instance, is now building one hostel project and a nursing school next, which means they have successfully branched out their investments,” he said.
Othman said the Al-Hidayah Group is also currently in talks with the host country to bring in KPJ Healthcare Berhad (KPJ), the healthcare arm of Johor Corporation (JCorp), to manage hospitals in Morocco.
The envoy said another Malaysian company, KPS, currently has an electronic components production unit in Mohammedia.
“Another area with big potential is trading,” he said, adding that: “Malaysian furniture is very popular here. Thus, Malaysian companies should seize this opportunity.”
Othman said the Malaysian Embassy in Rabat is also helping MARA through KOMITA, a consortium of agro-based food producers and entrepreneurs, to bring in products produced by Bumiputera entrepreneurs such as soya sauce, cookies and biscuits.
On bilateral trade between Malaysia and Morocco, the envoy said total trade between the two countries “is still small” with a trade balance in favour of Malaysia.
Based on figures available, total trade between Morocco and Malaysia in 2008 reached nearly RM234.2 million (US5 million), with total Malaysian exports touching RM182.2 million (US0.6 million).
Malaysia’s main exports are electrical and electronics products while its imports are food products and manufactured goods.
Othman said despite the limited resources, the Malaysian Embassy would find ways to implement the added responsibilities entrusted upon them such as enhancing cooperation in education and promoting tourism.
“Though tourism promotion is the duty of the Tourism Malaysia office in Jeddah, I like to promote tourism because it is an easier way to showcase the Malaysia’s image and we can see results quickly,” he said, adding that with the Malaysian government’s plan to bring in more Arab tourists, “we’ll do our best to showcase Malaysia by organising tourism-related programmes.”
In line with the government’s aspiration to turn Malaysia into an educational hub, Othman said the Malaysian Embassy would encourage more Moroccans to study in Malaysia while at the same time ensuring Malaysian students studying in Morocco stay focused on their education.
On the notion that only Morocco was sponsoring Malaysian students to study in Morocco, Othman was quick to point out that the Malaysian government through the MTCP (Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme) has sponsored Moroccan officials to be trained in Malaysia.
Source: Bernama